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Up Pompeii! row over Mandelson holiday

PETER MANDELSON, the European Union trade commissioner, has been holidaying in one of Italy’s most exclusive resorts while his officials struggle to resolve the "bra wars" crisis with China.

The former cabinet minister has been relaxing on the island of Capri, and in the Bay of Naples for most of August, despite the rift in relations with China.

In June, Brussels decided to protect EU producers with tight quotas on clothing imports, causing a build-up of huge stockpiles at European ports. Retailers have complained that stock is being impounded and high street supplies are running out.

Last Wednesday Mandelson, was forced to interrupt his holiday to admit that the system of quotas had a "serious glitch". He dispatched officials to Beijing to renegotiate the deal.

He had been away for almost three weeks, his departure coinciding with an announcement from his office that the new annual Chinese quota for many